Would the Minister agree that the objective of all this is to ensure sufficient generating capacity for electricity in 15 years time and that at the moment the most likely alternative source to oil is nuclear? Would the Minister agree also that if this is the case the sooner the better there is reached a decision that is both acceptable and seen to be acceptable to the majority of the people? In these circumstances would it not be advisable to have a public inquiry?

The reply to the last part of the supplementary is "no". It is important that we move away from our reliance on oil as our main source of energy. At the time the decision was reached by the previous Government in November 1973 our level of imports of oil was 65 per cent and since then it has increased to 67 per cent.

Is the Minister's mind closed totally to the idea of a public inquiry?

The Minister's mind is never closed. In this regard I refer the Deputy to my original reply where I said:

I am, of course, always glad to study any representations which interested groups may wish to submit to me.

In view of the new information to which I have referred, would the Minister consider the matter in this light and reconsider the question of a public inquiry?

If the Deputy would like to substantiate the information he has given me I should be delighted to have it studied in the Department.